Observer News: Good Samaritan Mission hosts back to school day
Good Samaritan Mission hosts back to school day
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Penny_Fletcher on 19/08/2010 18:16:17
Hundreds of people wait outside to eat hot dogs and nachos on Back to School day
at the mission. Area churches, individuals and service organizations collected
both food and money; Somebody Cares Tampa Bay supplies the backpacks; Wal-Mart
donated 900 $5 gift cards; and many volunteers donated their skills and time to
serve the area’s needy children from kindergarten through 12th grade and their
families.
By PENNY FLETCHER
penny@observernews.net
Good Samaritan Mission in Balm chose Aug. 16 to host the mission’s annual Back
to School giveaway day. An event that started with giving 25 backpacks more than
10 years ago has now grown to include more than 1,000 children and their
families.
Area churches, individuals and service organizations collected both food and
money; Somebody Cares Tampa Bay supplies the backpacks; Wal-Mart donated 900 $5
gift cards; and many volunteers donated their skills and time to serve the
area’s needy children from kindergarten through 12th grade and their families.
The mission, located at 14920 Balm-Wimauma Road is run by the Rev. William Cruz
Jr. and his wife, Theresa.
Penny Fletcher photos
Dr. Ervin Cerveny and Kelli Johnson of Suncoast Community Health Centers gave
dental exams to children at the Back to School event.
Kimberly Del Monte is one of the volunteers from Bell Shoals Baptist Church in
Brandon that helped out at the event. Area churches in many denominations took
part.
Clowns, singing, face painting and a blowup Moonwalk had kids laughing in
between waiting in long lines to be served.
Fran Lazar, a local stylist based at Bette’s Tip to Toe salon, 102 First Ave.
N.E. in Ruskin, offered her day to give free haircuts.